Greener Cleaning

In commercial cleaning today, everybody wants the job done quicker and “greener.” ServiceMaster Professional Restoration is always here to help! here are some tips you can follow at home: When choosing cleaning chemicals, choose one just strong enough to do the job quickly and completely. Too much or too strong, a chemical can leave dangerous residue or affect Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Similarly, an alternative chemical that is too weak might be “greener” but if much more needs to be used to do the job, or it takes twice as long to apply, your green benefit is eliminated.

Three Key Questions:

The success of each and every decision made during the restorative drying process depends on the information upon which the decision was based. The process of restorative drying involves a continuous cycle of information gathering, interpretation, decision making, validation and adjustment... There are 3 questions that summarize the information that must be obtained, documented and evaluated throughout the restorative drying process. When left unanswered, these questions are the source of the most common deficiencies in inspection and documentation. The four key questions, or 'knows' of drying are:
•What's Wet?
•How Wet Is It?
•Is It Drying?
Inspection, monitoring and documentation answer these 3 questions. A gap in this process will result in improper drying, additional water damage, and compromised cleanliness and integrity. Proper instruments and tools are a key ingredient to successful completion in the drying process.

What is water damage?

Water damage occurs when pipes burst or water seeps into a basement through a leaky foundation. Water damage can be expensive to fix and in some cases home buyers want to hold sellers accountable for it. Who should pay for water damage depends on when it's discovered. Same is true for how to fix it - the fix will depend on how extensive the water damage is. Learn about water damage and how to resolve it here.

Are You Shopping for a House?

Now is a great time to buy the home you've always dreamed of...
QUESTION:I am shopping for a house. What do I need to know about homeowner’s insurance before I buy?

ANSWER: There are two parts to a typical homeowner’s policy: (1) property coverage protects the home and contents plus losses for additional living expenses, and (2) liability coverage protects you from lawsuits. The amount of home coverage should be at least 80%, or more, of the replacement cost of your home. Coverage of the contents of your home is usually an amount at least half of the structure coverage.

Question of the day:

QUESTION: I rent a house from the owner. Do I need Homeowners coverage?

ANSWER: You cannot insure the structure (house, itself), but you can insure your personal belongings under a renters insurance contract and your landlord or lease agreement may require that you also do so.

Outside walls, doors and windows

Inspect outside walls, doors and windows each spring and fall for unusual wear or tear. Water and moisture can penetrate these common areas if they're not maintained regularly. Repair or replace caulk, weather stripping, glazing, window seals, door seals or any other exterior area damaged by use, abuse or normal weathering. Examine your exterior siding and replace any missing or damaged fasteners or screws. Repair or replace punctured siding.

Remember to look under your home for sagging, torn or water-spotted bottom barrier. This can indicate poor or damaged insulation, which may cause water lines to freeze and break. These symptoms also can indicate an existing leak.

Check your home's pneumatic storm door closer and safety chain. If these are loose or not working properly the storm door may blow open. That lets water in and can cause additional damage. Inspect exterior doors, especially wooden ones, for wear and tear and cracking.

Also check weather stripping and seals as well as the sill and the threshold for signs of leaking or other damage. Inspect the putty or caulking around metal windows. Clean and remove cracked or dried-out material and replace it with an upgraded sealant or caulk.

Protect Your Home from Water Damage

Water damage - whether caused by leaks or condensation - can do more than cause unsightly stains in your home. It can cause permanent structural damage to the home and erode its strength.

As a general rule, water damage from poor or infrequent maintenance, neglect or general deterioration isn't covered by your insurance. But proper home maintenance can help you prevent messy and costly damage to your home.

Did you know?

Most homeowners policies provide for funds for additional living expenses. These are the amount you must incur over and above your normal expenses to live when you become displaced from your home by a covered loss.
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QUESTION: If a tornado damages our home to the point that we cannot live there safely, will our homeowner's policy cover staying in a motel?

ANSWER: Many homeowner's policies have provisions to pay a reasonable increase in living expenses which are necessary to maintain the insured's normal standard of living. it is important to check your policy to find out if you have this coverage. If you do, you also need to find out what amount your policy will pay.

Celebrate 50th anniversary of Atlanta Motor Speedway with weekend of night racing

ServiceMaster Racing hospitality will be at the Atlanta Motor Speedway for an exciting weekend of night racing. If there's one stop on the NASCAR circuit that you can't miss this year, it will be Atlanta! This year, the Service Master Clean team has been able to secure a premiere hospitality location that will put you in the midst of the action...on pit road! The Clean Machine hospitality area will be located behind the pits, mere feet from the pit stalls themselves.

Enjoy a race weekend like no other with guided pit tours, special driver appearances, exclusive infield access, food and beverage, goody bags, raffles, and much more.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the track and to celebrate, the speedway will host an unforgettable race weekend. On Sunday, just prior to the race, your package will let you enjoy the classic rock sounds of the band Foreigner!

You don't want to miss out on this extraordinary weekend! We'll take care of you at the track and will give you a unique experience that can't be bought anywhere else

ServiceMaster of Buckhead -We're onTwitter!

We want to be of service to you in your homes, businesses and ONLINE! Do you have any questions for ServiceMaster? Ask away... http://twitter.com/smbuckhead

Did you know?

You can remove carpet marks left by furniture with ice cubes? -Fibers swell as they absorb the water. Vacuum carpet to pull up wet fibers, and restore your furniture

Actual Cash Value

Actual Cash Value is a term frequently used in the settlement of property damage claims. It refers to the insurer paying the current cost of the damaged property less depreciation due to age, wear, tear, etc. If the policy pays on the basis of actual cash value, the insured will generally not be fully compensated for the cost to repair or replace damaged property.

My washing machine overflowed, What Now?

Question: My washing machine overflowed.
Will my homeowners policy cover the
damage?

Answer: Yes. Water damage from
overflowing washing machines and dish
washers normally will be covered by
homeowner's policy.

QUESTION:I am shopping for a house. What do I need to know about homeowner’s insurance before I buy?

ANSWER: There are two parts to a typical homeowner’s policy: (1) property coverage protects the home and contents plus losses for additional living expenses, and (2) liability coverage protects you from lawsuits. The amount of home coverage should be at least 80%, or more, of the replacement cost of your home. Coverage of the contents of your home is usually an amount at least half of the structure coverage.

QUESTION:I recently installed smoke alarms on all levels of my home. Am I entitled to a discount on my homeowners policy?

ANSWER: Most insurance carriers offer discounts for several features, one of which may include smoke alarms. The amount of the reduction varies from company to company. You may be able to get an insurance discount and have a safe home for your family as well.

A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home

Why is mold growing in my home?
Molds are part of the natural environment. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture.

Can mold cause health problems?

Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing. This brochure provides a brief overview; it does not describe all potential health effects related to mold exposure. For more detailed information consult a health professional. You may also wish to consult your state or local health department.

How do I get rid of mold?

It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors; some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold, but don't fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back.

Celebrate 50th anniversary of Atlanta Motor Speedway with weekend night racing

ServiceMaster Racing hospitality will be at the Atlanta Motor Speedway for an exciting weekend of night racing. If there's one stop on the NASCAR circuit that you can't miss this year, it will be Atlanta! This year, the Service Master Clean team has been able to secure a premiere hospitality location that will put you in the midst of the action...on pit road! The Clean Machine hospitality area will be located behind the pits, mere feet from the pit stalls themselves.

Enjoy a race weekend like no other with guided pit tours, special driver appearances, exclusive infield access, food and beverage, goody bags, raffles, and much more.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the track and to celebrate, the speedway will host an unforgettable race weekend. On Sunday, just prior to the race, your package will let you enjoy the classic rock sounds of the band Foreigner!

One of the most misunderstood things about Trees:

One of the most misunderstood coverages found in a homeowners policy is related to property damage caused by trees, tree replacement and tree removal. The standard homeowner’s policy provides limited coverage that depends on the circumstances that caused the tree to fall and where it fell.
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QUESTION: My neighbor says that I have to pay for the damage to his house/car since they were damaged by my tree when it hit his house/car. My insurance company says I don't owe him. Who is right? Do I have to pay him?

ANSWER: If your tree was not dead or dying and an imminent hazard before it fell, you are probably not liable for your neighbor's house/car damage. If you are not legally responsible for the damages, your insurance company will not pay your neighbor for damages you do not legally owe. However, if you knew the tree was dead and/or diseased and you didn't take action to prevent damage that you knew would likely occur, you may be held responsible or legally liable for such damage or injury.

Storm Damage FAQ:

The standard homeowners policy does protect you for most “storm” activity. You should be prepared to make reasonable effort to protect your property from damage. When and if there is damage to your property, you must try to prevent further loss.
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QUESTION:As a result of rain and hail storm, we have a hole in our roof. If I get the roof patched before the insurance adjuster comes to see it, will the insurance company still pay for the actual repair of the roof?

ANSWER: Normally. It is your responsibility to protect the roof from further damage until the insurance adjuster can determine the extent of the loss. In order to get reimbursed for these expenses, you should keep receipts to submit to the insurance company.

QUESTION:Does my "new" policy cover me for the hurricane that has been announced?

ANSWER: If you just bought a policy, you need to contact your agent. Don't wait until a storm is pending to buy insurance coverage as it may not be effective until the storm is over.


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Helpful Info from the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire

Homeowners insurance, also called property insurance, protects the homeowner from weather-related damage, as well as potential liability from events that occur on the property. Lenders require homeowners insurance coverage to protect the collateral that secures their loan. Some homeowners insurance policies do not cover catastrophic events such as tornadoes, hurricanes or floods. These kinds of events generally require a separate insurance policy.

Replacement Cost coverage is becoming more prevalent in insurance policies. It means that insurer will pay the full cost to repair or replace your damaged house or personal property with new materials of the like, kind and quality that was damaged or lost. To receive the full replacement cost, however, most insurance policies require that the damaged property be repaired or replaced within a reasonable period, generally, 180 days from the date of the loss.
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QUESTION: The insurance company estimated that the replacement cost to repair my roof is $5,500.00 but only paid $3,900.00. I only have a $500.00 deductible. Why are they paying less than the replacement cost minus the deductible?

ANSWER: The insurance policy agrees to pay the replacement cost minus the deductible provided the damaged property is, in fact, replaced. Thus, the insurance company generally advances the actual cash value or depreciated value of the damaged property pending commencement of repairs or full replacement of lost property. Once repairs begin or property replaced, the insurance company will pay the full replacement amount.


http://www.gainsurance.org/

ServiceMaster Clean Racing - 2 Nights Under the Lights

The ServiceMaster Clean Racing Team took in back-to-back nights of NASCAR racing under the lights at Chicagoland Speedway July 9 and 10. Some of the key highlights of the race weekend include:

-Guests were entertained all afternoon and all night at the ServiceMaster Clean Machine In the Skyline Terrace, which places ServiceMaster Clean guests up on a hill outside turn two. The hospitality location gave everyone a spectacular view of the 1.5mile speedway and all the on-track action both Friday & Saturday night.

-Guests were treated to behind the scene tours both Friday & Saturday. First everyone toured pit road during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Seriers (NSCS) qualifying session on Friday evening. Then, Saturday afternoon, just as the teams were making their final pre-race preparations and lining up their cars on the starting grid to run the LifeLock.com 400, Servicemaster Clean guests tool a stroll inside the NSCS garage. While walking through the garage, guests can across some of NASCAR's biggest names, including Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Richard Childress. Some even took a tour inside the team transporter of LifeLock.com race winner David Reutimann. Kurt Busch, the No. 2 Penski Dodge and a current top 5 contender in the NSCS points standings, stopped by the ServiceMaster Clean Machine to sign autographs for everyone in attendance Saturday Afternoon.

-As Always, each guest also received a goody bag filled with Servicemaster Clean branded race track essentials, and official Chicagoland Speedway track program and diecast, along with unlimited food and beverages.

Home Study

Recent "Home Emergency Tracker" study finds that nearly 1 in 4 U.S. homeowners will experience some type of home-related damage, But only half of those homeowners say that they are prepared to handle the situation. the 5 most common types of home-damage occurs from:

1. Electrical surges
2. Standing water, as a result of rain
3. Mold
4. Sewer back-up
5. Standing water, as a result of broken appliance.

To do more research visit us at: www.ServicemasterPR.com

Google Seminar

This week our Marketing Manager attended a 2 day seminar taught by Brad Geddes. Brad happens to be one of only 2 Google-Approved AdWords Seminars leaders. Check out his blog at: http://www.bgtheory.com/

The seminar was awesome and we can't wait to start implementing all that was learned.

Yelp

We are now on Yelp, check us out:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/servicemaster-of-buckhead-and-atlanta

Check us out

We're Now listed on Zipper Pages!
http://www.zipperpages.com/Service_Master_Of_Buckhead-of-Atlanta_GA/2286685.html

We are always here to help

Established in 1952, ServiceMaster Clean® is one of North America's leading cleaning and restoration companies. A worldwide network of over 4,500 franchises provides an unparalleled reputation for service, quality, professionalism, and customer satisfaction.

Family of Brands

Did you know ServiceMaster is a part of a family of brands? ServiceMaster currently serves residential and commercial customers through a network of over 5,500 company-owned locations and franchised licenses. The Company's brands include TruGreen®, TruGreen LandCare®, Terminix®, American Home Shield®, ServiceMaster Clean®, Merry Maids®, Furniture Medic®, and AmeriSpec®. The core services of the Company include lawn care and landscape maintenance, termite and pest control, home warranties, disaster response and reconstruction, cleaning and disaster restoration, house cleaning, furniture repair, and home inspection.

Today we launched our new and inporved website! www.servicemasterpr.com and we can't wait to share it with the world! We're thrilled to launch our new, fully re-designed website. Please take a look around and let us know what you think of Atlanta's most trusted name in Full Water and Fire Damage Restoration's new site! Our new fully in house content managed website will be a continually evolving platform to showcase our work and a place to keep you up to date with all the happenings in industry.

9 Tips to Clean Bathroom Water Damage

Some helpful hints on cleaning a water damaged bathroom:

9 Tips to Clean Bathroom Water Damage

And Remember, If there is anything we can ever do to help you, Please give us a call 24hours a day, 7 days a week we are here to serve you! 404-853-2525.

4th of July Celebration Tips to Keep Your Family Safe

Independence Day honors the birthday of the United States of America and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It's a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks, and a reason to fly the American flag. Fireworks and celebrations go together, especially during the Fourth of July and year end celebrations. Remember, fireworks can be dangerous, causing serious burn and eye injuries. You can help us prevent fireworks-related injuries and deaths. How? By working with a national, state or local organization where you live to promote fireworks safety in your community. Here are some ideas on what you can do.
http://www.cpsc.gov/info/fireworks/index.html

Q. How long will the restoration process take?

A. There are many variables and many services involved in fire and smoke restoration, it is difficult to predict exactly how long the complete restoration of your home or business will take. Consult with your ServiceMaster technician on the estimated dates and phases of your restoration project. Drying time on water losses are determined by a combination of factors including the location, duration and source of water, the types of building materials, the weather conditions and how quickly emergency services begin. Through consistent monitoring and evaluation of the drying process, we can determine when the drying is complete. Your carpet may feel dry to the touch, but padding and sub-floors may still be wet underneath. While there are no rules to determine how long your property will take to dry, we can tell you it may take between three to five days or more, depending on the conditions.

We Offer 24/7 Immediate Response

For immediate emergency fire, water damage and vandalism clean up, or carpet cleaning call us. www.servicemasterpr.com 404-853-2525.

Will Google Maps Win the Turn-by-Turn Nav War in Cars?

We're following this trend to make sure that our technicians and our services vehicles are equipped with the best tools available. We're doing everything we can to ensure a fast arrival to your water damage emergency.
Will Google Maps Win the Turn-by-Turn Nav War in Cars?

Who Owns the Rain? Hint: It's Not Always Homeowners

Who Owns the Rain? Hint: It's Not Always Homeowners

A Recent Project

This is a recent water restoration project we worked on. A big "Thank You" goes out to all of our technicians who helped restore this home!

Slash Your Insurance Costs - Kiplinger

Hopefully some of our readers will find this information helpful. We did!

Slash Your Insurance Costs - Kiplinger

Oh No...This house had some water damage in the kitchen thanks to a dishwasher leak. Hopefully this never happens to any of our readers, but if it does ServiceMaster Professional Restoration is here to help! Call us at: 404-853-2525.

www.servicemasterpr.com

ServiceMaster Considering Ways to Restructure Its IT Organization

ServiceMaster Considering Ways to Restructure Its IT Organization.

We are restructuring our IT now!

ServiceMaster Offers Opportunity For Entrepreneurs In Current Economic Climate

ServiceMaster Offers Opportunity For Entrepreneurs In Current Economic Climate.

We loved this story, hope you enjoy it too. ServiceMaster is a wonderful company to work for.

Holiday Weekend

We hope that everyone had a safe and happy holiday!

With the Summer season upon us, we wanted to offer some helpful tips and reminders to all our readers to help keep your families safe and avoid disasters.

1. Never bring charcoal grills indoors. Burning charcoal produces deadly carbon monoxide.
2. Before using a gas grill, check the air tubes for any blockage from insects, spiders or food grease. Also check hoses for cracking, holes, or leaks. if you ever detect a gas leak, immediately turn off the gas at the tank and don't attempt to light the grill until the leak is fixed.
3. Always read and follow the label directions carefully when dealing with fireworks of any kind.

Recent CE Ethics Course

On Friday May 14, 2010 ServiceMaster Professional Restoration held our first Continuing Education Course, certified with the state of Georgia at Maggiano's Italian Restaurant. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make out CE course so successful. Everyone who attended fulfilled their 3 hour Ethics requirement for the year. We also had 3 door prise winners who each one $25 gift cards to Best Buy. Congratulations!

We hope that everyone who attended the course saw first-hand our attention to detail, along with the level of service we are used to giving our customers. ServiceMaster Professional Restoration wants to be your first choice for restoration Services!

Effective Communication is Key

At ServiceMaster Professional Restoration we believe that communication is one of the most important factors of keeping our business operating smoothly. We communicate with our customers daily to make sure every aspect of their home restoration if effortless. We have developed this Blog to help us communicate better with you! Our goal is communicate special events, updates and recognitions we achieve here. We are looking forward to making this a fun and exciting tool to bring us all closer together.